Connecting your BlackBerry with Exchange email

BlackBerry

The Exchange email at UW (called “Connect”) uses a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) to connect devices with the Exchange email servers. The following steps will ensure that the migration of your BlackBerry device to the Connect/Exchange email will go as smoothly as possible.

Step 1: Ensure that your device is on a BES-enabled data plan

Contact Telecommunication Services at x84488 to confirm/change your data plan.

In order to connect to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), your device must be on a data plan with your mobile carrier that supports BES. You should use this opportunity to review your existing data usage and data plan as carriers provide new plans with higher limits and lower costs. With some of the older plans, the initial data synchronization with the BES server has generated sufficient traffic to result in extra data usage charges. The license fee and annual license renewal fees for corporate accounts will be paid centrally, by IST.

Step 2: Submit a request to obtain a BES account

Email request@uwaterloo.ca to have a BES Enterprise Activation set up for the device.
Include the userid of the person who uses the BlackBerry.

NOTE - If you don't have an Exchange (connect) email account yet you will need to request that also!

Step 3: Back up any existing data

Using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, create a backup of all data on the device. For instruction on how to perform this task, refer to: http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/cs/bb/bb-setup.html#d.

Step 4: Perform Enterprise Activation on the device

In response to the request item, you will be emailed an activation code.

On the BlackBerry device (while connected), go to the Enterprise Activation (Options-Advanced Options (OS5) or Options-Device-Advanced System Settings-Enterprise Activation (OS6))
Enter your email account in the format username@connect.uwaterloo.ca and the activation password and then select "Activate".

There is an expiry period for the password (this will be indicated in the response) so you should perform this step shortly after receiving the activation code. If you don't get to it before the password expires, indicate this in the request item and a new activation password will be set.

Activation can take up to 4 hours but you should see some indication of progress within the first 20 minutes or so. If the activation times out or fails, power off the device and remove the battery. After 10-15 seconds replace the battery, power up the device and retry the Enterprise Activation. If that fails, you may need to wipe the device and retry the activation. Ensure that you have backed up your device before wiping it. After wiping the device, make sure the device is in the correct time zone (occasionally it gets reset after wiping the device and activation will fail if the device is in the wrong time zone).

Afterwards, you should review the email reconciliation settings (under "Options" from within the email client) and set the Delete On: option to what you want (Mailbox & Handheld, Handheld, or Prompt).

What else do you need to know about your device and BES?

Is there a charge for this service?

No cost for corporate accounts as the licensing fee will be centrally funded, and handled by IST.

What do I do if I get a new device?

Submit a request (email request@uwaterloo.ca) indicating that you have a new device and require an activation password for the new device. As with the activation on the previous device, an email will be sent to you with a new activation code. Follow steps 3 and 4 above. You should wipe all of the data from the old device after confirming that everything is working as expected on your new device.

How do I add my Exchange email to Outlook or another mailer?

Follow the instructions on the Email Migration to Exchange Server SharePoint site.

This page was updated on July 22, 2011.